¹⁹ having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

⁹ holding the ^[a]mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

¹⁰ Because you have kept ^[a]My command to persevere, ^(A)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon ^(B)the whole world, to test those who dwell ^(C)on the earth.

¹⁵ But ^[a]sanctify ^[b]the Lord God in your hearts, and always ^(A)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the ^(B)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ^16 (C)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

⁹ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

^8 (A)“I know your works. See, I have set before you ^(B)an open door, ^[a]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

Destructive Doctrines

2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be ^(A)false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction ^[a]does not slumber.

⁴ For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted ^(A)the heavenly gift, and ^(B)have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ^6 [a]if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, ^(C)since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,